Please dont turn this into a BP v. jacket thread. Its too late. Ive already made up my mind. NO Jacket required!
OK. Here I go. Mo2vation isnt the only one to get assimilated. This may turn into a somewhat lengthy post, but Ill try to break it out to make it easy to respond to. Been thinking about making the switch for a while~ like as soon as I heard about it.
Went to do an Ice Specialty O/W a couple of weekends ago, and some things happened that have prompted me to move forward with getting the switch completely done.
I currently dive a Genesis Recon, which I guess is about the same thing as a Sherwood Avid. I like it, but after having been introduced to the DIR configuration here on the board, the BP/Wing thing makes a lot of sense, for a lot of reasons. Im a fairly analytical kind of guy, and capable of wading through the dribble & gleaning the worthwhile info from the diatribe.
I know the answers to all my question will already have been provided, but Im asking for your input specific to my questions so that I have just one thread to come back to for reference.
First how I dive now & expect to dive:
PADI AO/W, with Nitrox, Ice, Drysuit, S&R, Deep, & Altitude Specialties, and Rescue. Theres a DIR-F class happening over Easter weekend at a close location that I want to try to attend, but over Easter, not sure if I can swing it. Found an IANTD Advanced Nitrox/Deco instructor that may be able to hold a class locally as well. Looks like there may be enough local interest in that to get it done. Not sure Im really interested in DM/Instructor, but may go that route for free fills and a reason to get in the water. I had the same dilemma with skiing~ do I want to make my recreation a job?
Currently I dive single Al80s, and previously mostly in warm water locations with wife & daughter. Have started diving locally more. Will try to do most of it early in the year and over the winter when algae blooming isnt such an issue. So that means mostly cold, and usually low viz.
Local waters are mostly reservoirs, and a few spring fed sinkholes. Although Im sure it wouldnt be terribly exciting for most, I expect the biggest activity to be bottom combing for junk to become a pretty good chunk of my local diving. I expect some S&R of lost items, and maybe some marina repair to be in the mix as well. Eventually, Wreck/Cave certs may be in the offing, although that will entail travel (or maybe just moving!).
Already swapped out to a long hose. Seemed right intuitively, and felt right from the first time I wrapped it around my head. Only issue is trying to unbolt it with 7mm 3~finger mitts. Practice I guess. Bought a set of Jets with springs to replace my TUSA zooms. Like the springs. Have yet to form an opinion one way or the other on the fins, though. Havent had a chance to use both of them on the same trip yet to really do a comparison.
Ive only seen one BP/Wing setup in person, and it was a full Halcyon Pioneer setup, so a little help would be appreciated, and your indulgence if some of the question/comments seem elementary or stupid would be appreciated.
So here are my questions regarding the balance of the switch:
Back Plate:
Im looking at Garys BP. He was on vacation last time I checked, but think he may be back. Ive seen posts about FredT, and one other manufacturer I cant remember. I know FredT has a hand hole, but other than that, any other significant difference, pro or con? Somebody posted a link/picture to another brand, but the number of holes on its perimeter seemed to be significantly less than FredTs or Garys. Comments?
STA v Double set up:
Havent decided for sure, but if Im going to do this, Im likely to go ahead and set it up for doubles, but have some questions regarding both configurations.
The Halcyon single setup I saw just had the nylon straps to hold the tank. From what Ive read, theres a channel STA available that adds 4-5#. Anyone have any experience as to whether this channel STA is interchangeable between plates? I have a drill press, used to work in a Steel Fab shop, so a little home modification isnt an issue. I saw Uncle Pugs post/picture of his keel weight, and am already thinking about that. Should I not get the channel STA, and use the keel weight instead, is there an issue with the tank straps for a single? Again, having not seen these in person, Im just going on what I see on the web, and sometimes a little difficult to really tell whats going on.
Double tank setup:
Setting up a single is pretty much a no-brainer, so here are my questions on the doubles. First tank size/material. I figure Im going to dive dry almost all the time with this setup in a 7mm Neoprene. Currently I need about 24# ~ 26# (at 5000 ft elevation in fresh water. I seem to need to have to add a pound or two as I go up from there in altitude, as would be expected). If/when I dive warm/wet, I need 10# ~ 12# in what I wear, so I figure Ill set the BP with a keel weight to right around that.
So that leaves about 14# to make up. From what Ive seen, looks like the LP steels, and AL tanks run from a little negative full and zero to 3-5# positive empty, while the HP steel run -10# full, and stay -5# or so empty. So, if I use HP steel, that puts me almost neutral (+/-4# at most, I figure, depending on other gear) with BP/Keel weight & tank weight. At the surface. With neoprene compression, its going to go pretty negative at depth.
Comments &suggestions about this setup and safety issues with surplus/emergency buoyancy issues?
Manifolds, valves, regs.
This in area that I have very little experience with for setting up doubles. Havent really done much research yet, but looking at an OMS manifold with Isolator (http://www.omsdive.com/valves.html#M-SPEC) Any comments pro or con on these? Suggestions of an alternate manufacturer/source?
This may seem like stupid question, but Ive never witnessed the process. How do you fill these? You just leave them hooked up to the plate and take them in & have them filled? How do you deal with multiple dives on a boat or site with no fill station?
Currently, Im using (I know what most of you think about them, but theyve been very good to me so far) a Dacor Fury Adj. and a Viper Octo with DIN/yoke adaptor 1st stage. If I understand it right, with the double, I need to get a second first stage for the second post for full isolation of the two 2nd stages. Will probably look at a different reg when the diving demands it, this setup fails or gives me problems, or I run across a screaming deal. I dove these regs under the ice a couple weeks ago, and even though its a cheap setup, no free flow, no problems. Wasnt real deep, but a lot of much more expensive equipment on the site did have problems, with a lot of grumbling about it as well. -22 F air Saturday morning at 9000 ft elevation wasnt real equipment friendly.
Finally the wing. Dont know about the wing itself, and whether its interchangeable or not ,but saw a Dive Rite transpac on this ice trip and knew that setup was NOT for me. So unless Im missing something, looks like Halcyon. Explorer with 55# lift? Is there really that much difference in profile between the 40 & 55? And if I get an explorer wing, any really significant issue with it if I take it single diving on vacation where Id be diving mostly single AL80 rentals?
Thanks in advance for any input, suggestions and comments
Raybo
OK. Here I go. Mo2vation isnt the only one to get assimilated. This may turn into a somewhat lengthy post, but Ill try to break it out to make it easy to respond to. Been thinking about making the switch for a while~ like as soon as I heard about it.
Went to do an Ice Specialty O/W a couple of weekends ago, and some things happened that have prompted me to move forward with getting the switch completely done.
I currently dive a Genesis Recon, which I guess is about the same thing as a Sherwood Avid. I like it, but after having been introduced to the DIR configuration here on the board, the BP/Wing thing makes a lot of sense, for a lot of reasons. Im a fairly analytical kind of guy, and capable of wading through the dribble & gleaning the worthwhile info from the diatribe.
I know the answers to all my question will already have been provided, but Im asking for your input specific to my questions so that I have just one thread to come back to for reference.
First how I dive now & expect to dive:
PADI AO/W, with Nitrox, Ice, Drysuit, S&R, Deep, & Altitude Specialties, and Rescue. Theres a DIR-F class happening over Easter weekend at a close location that I want to try to attend, but over Easter, not sure if I can swing it. Found an IANTD Advanced Nitrox/Deco instructor that may be able to hold a class locally as well. Looks like there may be enough local interest in that to get it done. Not sure Im really interested in DM/Instructor, but may go that route for free fills and a reason to get in the water. I had the same dilemma with skiing~ do I want to make my recreation a job?
Currently I dive single Al80s, and previously mostly in warm water locations with wife & daughter. Have started diving locally more. Will try to do most of it early in the year and over the winter when algae blooming isnt such an issue. So that means mostly cold, and usually low viz.
Local waters are mostly reservoirs, and a few spring fed sinkholes. Although Im sure it wouldnt be terribly exciting for most, I expect the biggest activity to be bottom combing for junk to become a pretty good chunk of my local diving. I expect some S&R of lost items, and maybe some marina repair to be in the mix as well. Eventually, Wreck/Cave certs may be in the offing, although that will entail travel (or maybe just moving!).
Already swapped out to a long hose. Seemed right intuitively, and felt right from the first time I wrapped it around my head. Only issue is trying to unbolt it with 7mm 3~finger mitts. Practice I guess. Bought a set of Jets with springs to replace my TUSA zooms. Like the springs. Have yet to form an opinion one way or the other on the fins, though. Havent had a chance to use both of them on the same trip yet to really do a comparison.
Ive only seen one BP/Wing setup in person, and it was a full Halcyon Pioneer setup, so a little help would be appreciated, and your indulgence if some of the question/comments seem elementary or stupid would be appreciated.
So here are my questions regarding the balance of the switch:
Back Plate:
Im looking at Garys BP. He was on vacation last time I checked, but think he may be back. Ive seen posts about FredT, and one other manufacturer I cant remember. I know FredT has a hand hole, but other than that, any other significant difference, pro or con? Somebody posted a link/picture to another brand, but the number of holes on its perimeter seemed to be significantly less than FredTs or Garys. Comments?
STA v Double set up:
Havent decided for sure, but if Im going to do this, Im likely to go ahead and set it up for doubles, but have some questions regarding both configurations.
The Halcyon single setup I saw just had the nylon straps to hold the tank. From what Ive read, theres a channel STA available that adds 4-5#. Anyone have any experience as to whether this channel STA is interchangeable between plates? I have a drill press, used to work in a Steel Fab shop, so a little home modification isnt an issue. I saw Uncle Pugs post/picture of his keel weight, and am already thinking about that. Should I not get the channel STA, and use the keel weight instead, is there an issue with the tank straps for a single? Again, having not seen these in person, Im just going on what I see on the web, and sometimes a little difficult to really tell whats going on.
Double tank setup:
Setting up a single is pretty much a no-brainer, so here are my questions on the doubles. First tank size/material. I figure Im going to dive dry almost all the time with this setup in a 7mm Neoprene. Currently I need about 24# ~ 26# (at 5000 ft elevation in fresh water. I seem to need to have to add a pound or two as I go up from there in altitude, as would be expected). If/when I dive warm/wet, I need 10# ~ 12# in what I wear, so I figure Ill set the BP with a keel weight to right around that.
So that leaves about 14# to make up. From what Ive seen, looks like the LP steels, and AL tanks run from a little negative full and zero to 3-5# positive empty, while the HP steel run -10# full, and stay -5# or so empty. So, if I use HP steel, that puts me almost neutral (+/-4# at most, I figure, depending on other gear) with BP/Keel weight & tank weight. At the surface. With neoprene compression, its going to go pretty negative at depth.
Comments &suggestions about this setup and safety issues with surplus/emergency buoyancy issues?
Manifolds, valves, regs.
This in area that I have very little experience with for setting up doubles. Havent really done much research yet, but looking at an OMS manifold with Isolator (http://www.omsdive.com/valves.html#M-SPEC) Any comments pro or con on these? Suggestions of an alternate manufacturer/source?
This may seem like stupid question, but Ive never witnessed the process. How do you fill these? You just leave them hooked up to the plate and take them in & have them filled? How do you deal with multiple dives on a boat or site with no fill station?
Currently, Im using (I know what most of you think about them, but theyve been very good to me so far) a Dacor Fury Adj. and a Viper Octo with DIN/yoke adaptor 1st stage. If I understand it right, with the double, I need to get a second first stage for the second post for full isolation of the two 2nd stages. Will probably look at a different reg when the diving demands it, this setup fails or gives me problems, or I run across a screaming deal. I dove these regs under the ice a couple weeks ago, and even though its a cheap setup, no free flow, no problems. Wasnt real deep, but a lot of much more expensive equipment on the site did have problems, with a lot of grumbling about it as well. -22 F air Saturday morning at 9000 ft elevation wasnt real equipment friendly.
Finally the wing. Dont know about the wing itself, and whether its interchangeable or not ,but saw a Dive Rite transpac on this ice trip and knew that setup was NOT for me. So unless Im missing something, looks like Halcyon. Explorer with 55# lift? Is there really that much difference in profile between the 40 & 55? And if I get an explorer wing, any really significant issue with it if I take it single diving on vacation where Id be diving mostly single AL80 rentals?
Thanks in advance for any input, suggestions and comments
Raybo